Birmingham City's promising start to the Championship season has hit a stumbling block, with a worrying downturn in results and goals leaving manager Chris Davies searching for answers. As the hectic festive fixture list demands solutions, an unexpected saviour could emerge from within the squad itself.
From Feast to Famine in Front of Goal
The narrative of Blues' campaign has been a rollercoaster. After a blistering November where they scored 14 of their 30 league goals, the goals have dried up in December. The previously fruitful partnership between Marvin Ducksch and Jay Stansfield, which yielded seven combined goal involvements last month, has lost its potency.
Ducksch's influence has waned, particularly away from home, while Stansfield has managed just one assist in his last five outings. This slump has turned the striker position, which seemed settled, into a major question mark ahead of the January transfer window.
The January Transfer Conundrum
With the window opening in just two weeks, the club's recruitment team faces a familiar but difficult challenge. Proven goalscorers are at a premium in the Championship, and every club is searching for the same profile. The task of signing a target man who can guarantee goals in a 31-day period is described as a form of "football alchemy".
Compounding the issue are the mixed form of other forwards like Kyogo Furuhashi and Lyndon Dykes' international commitments. While a new signing would be ideal, financial realities mean Birmingham may need to look closer to home for a solution.
Willum Willumsson: The Internal Answer?
One intriguing possibility lies in the imminent return of Icelander Willum Willumsson. A key figure in last season's League One title win, the 27-year-old attacking midfielder has been sidelined by injury since August, making only three inconclusive appearances this term.
Manager Chris Davies has acknowledged his potential role, stating: "I do feel there’s a role for Willum to play. He’s a different type of number 10, he gets between the lines and in the small spaces. He has the intricacy to turn and thread a ball through."
Davies' current system, which utilises inverted wingers, may actually be perfectly suited to a traditional number 10 like Willumsson. His ability to operate in tight spaces and provide the final pass could be the key to reigniting the attacks that have recently stalled.
If the Icelander can seize his opportunity and start contributing the goals and assists expected of a creative fulcrum, he could transform Birmingham's transfer needs. Instead of a costly foray into the market, Davies might find the inspiration for the second half of the season from a player who was instrumental in the first half of the last.
The coming weeks are critical. As Birmingham City navigate a packed schedule, the door is ajar for a forgotten man to step through and become the catalyst for a renewed promotion push.
